Curious Voyager - Live like you mean it!

A Look At Time

It’s Saturday morning and here I am at my current favorite hangout, Starbucks on Cornell in Blue Ash, Ohio. Let’s see, I am reading the weekly news on my Mini (while writing on it also), listening to music on my iPod while checking in at Foursquare on my Droid. I am the Mayor of this Starbucks and I intend to hold that position. I am reading the news via Google Reader, checking my email and just enjoying life even if it is cold outside.

While I am doing this the song that is playing on my iPod playlist is the “Class Of 57” by the Statler Brothers. It’ is part of my “Oldies” playlist that was created between my record collection and iTunes. I actually left high school in 56 to join the US Army and here it is 54 years later and how times have changed.

At that time anyone going to the moon was going to be sent there by Jackie Gleason (perhaps that was later) however there was no dreaming on our part in the class of 56 that would considered how we view the world today and yet I can’t wait to see what will be next.

This week’s introduction of the iPad will perhaps lead to another change in the way we read in the future. We have had e-book readers that have become very popular in the last couple of years (Amazon Kindle and Sony’s e-Book) but with the introduction of the iPad it will take these devices to another level. The delivery of the iPad will bring more attention to the world of e-book readers and people outside of those riding the curl will become aware of this “new” thing. It’s the “wave” of the future. I know that was a bad pun.

I am sure we will see more of these devices as we go into the months ahead and they will be better equipped to do more than we knew we needed. One device that allows me to surf, read books and magazines, check and send email. That I can write on as in Word/Excel/PowerPoint or Live Writer  (this could be web based).  With a headset I could listen to my music and allow me to make or receive phone calls. It should not weight much more than a pound and about the size of piece of paper, 8 1/2 by 11 inches. It could roll up however I suspect that will be way out in the future.

I now am listening to “Don’t Be Cruel” by Elvis Presley – oh you had to be there however it is still great music. One thing about playing music from your earlier years is psychological edge that it can give you. It takes you back to those times and if those years were good you will inherit the feeling. Bring it on, I need the spirit.

The King is in the house.

Connectify, Office 2010 and LIVE

Just a short update on my Connectify installation – it works and very well. I was meeting with a friend today in a Panera Bread location. I booted up the Mini and logged into VZ Access Manager and then opened Connectify. It took a few minutes however we got his computer logged in and he surfed and I surfed and we could not see a difference between his being logged into Connectify or logging into the local Panera Bread wireless and most likely a little safer.

I like expanding on what this little Mini can do running Windows 7. Tonight I connected to Microsoft’s Live and then into Workspaces and updated the Office 2010 Beta to add the ability to upload files to Workspaces directly from Word or Excel. Now to test it.

I do have one suggestion for Microsoft and that is to be sure that all office software is capable of being run on a netbook. Windows Live Writer is the best and easiest blogging tool I have every used however at the moment because of the netbook screen resolution – 1024 by 566. I cannot see all of the tools when  inserting pictures and there is not scroll bar to allow me to get to the tools off the bottom of the screen. This is the same issue I had with Adobe Acrobat. This needs to be fixed. I can rotate the screen however (see prior post) that is not easy.

Of course I am writing it here and I should be writing directly to Microsoft as I should have been writing to HP. They most likely are not reading this.

Google Android - iPhone

TECHNOLOGY: (this then is the business)

If you have been reading my prior post’s on smart phones you know that I “was” not a big proponent of the smart phone. I have watched over the past few years as people have gotten addicted to their Blackberry’s hence the term ‘crackberry’ and the iPhone. I agree it is a problem. We may have to come up with some Smartphone Recovery Program (SRP) to deal with this.

I may be having this problem myself with the Android. Like many discussion’s comparing products I believe that it often becomes more of a personal like /dislike influence. Personally the argument “my phone has access to more apps than your phone” are really dumb. How many apps can you use on the phone? What apps do you want? Just because one phone developer has an app that can count traffic lights in a given square mile does that make that phone better? Or do you really need it?

In a recent Business Week article (Nexus One: Not A Game-Changer – January 25, 2010) the reviewer states “…..it won’t take the wind from Apple’s sails”. He may be right with the fact that Apple was first and did change the market but this could be an “iPhone” disrupter (I also agree with losing iPhone killer as a statement). I do agree that Apple changed the cell phone market as they changed the music delivery.

Most of all the comments Rich (Rich Jaroslovsky) makes are on target from everything I have read; better looking screen, better microprocessor, replaceable battery, memory card slot. He does not mention a better onscreen keyboard and the predictive text feature being better than the iPhone (I am using a Motorola Droid and the slide out keyboard needs some improvement).

Where I take argument is this ridiculous discussion about Apple having more apps than the Android. Rich states that this is a shortcoming. Sorry Rich, I think that this is bogus argument (as John C. Dvorak would say) .

First I suspect that most of the apps on the iPhone are not worth having. Second, I have about 25 apps on my Android and had to build folders for them (thanks to Gina Trapani). At the moment some will be going. Most were downloaded to see what it did and for me to learn, now I have to get rid of them, why clutter the system. I do not have time to kill playing games on the phone however there are some good ones I am told. I enjoy learning so don’t have a great deal of time for games.

I will say that once the list of apps gets over 25 I am better off on my Mini.

I do take some (note some) issue with the statement about synching with Microsoft Outlook. I have no problem with getting my Outlook email with an email app however I do not synch with an Exchange server. I am told I could but I do not need to. I am currently only using Outlook for email and contacts. I use Google Calendar and synched Contacts with Outlook so all contacts are at Google. I also use Gmail a great deal – and this from someone who was a died in the wool Outlook user up to about 2 years ago.

There are some apps that are important to me. Most captured from Market Place on the phone and most are free (not all, just search). I am currently using:

• Maps (very good and came with the phone. I don’t know if it is on the iPhone yet however I have used Google’s turn by turn direction and it has been right on)
• Places (so I can find things around where I am)
• Open Table (to book reservations)
• Fandango (find a movie and where it is playing and when with directions to the theater and potential ticket buying. Great for a spontaneous evening.)
• Newspaper App (with over 60 newspapers – this from someone who said he would never read on a phone)
• DataViz with Documents to Go (Excel, Word, PowerPoint and PDF, not free however I have used this prior with my Palm IV)
• Evernote (great app for both phone and computer with limited free version)
• Seesmic (for my Twitter connection – although not usedmuch)
• Facebook app (to connect to Facebook but another very seldom used app)
• Gmail / Calendar / Google Voice / Browser – these go without saying
• Alarm Clock (This “could be” important)
• Foursquare (only game and this morning I became the Mayor of Starbucks here in Blue Ash, Ohio)
• AccuWeather (for current weather where I am)
• Advanced Task Killer (so the battery lasts for two days. This one recommended by Scott over at Verizon and has proved to be a good one)
• Amazon MP3 download ( I do love my music and had to try this)
• Google Googles ( for fun and testing – very interestin)
• TWiT.tv by Mediafly (so I could test streaming tv on my Android, very interesting and perhaps a picture of things to come)
• Barcode Scanner (had to do it and it works)

Gee, I didn’t even hit 20 and how much time do I have to check out 20,000? I searched for and found the things that interest me and I suspect that anyone could find those apps that interest them in the Google / Android system.

No, not an iPhone killer but an iPhone Disrupter – and a good one. When it gets to Verizon it could do some damage to Apple’s market share since I think there are more Google Fan Boy’s/Girls than Apple Fan Boy’s/Girls.

Just think, I don’t know.

I wonder where the Nexus One vs Apple contest will be in another year? 2 years? This should be interesting however at the moment it is Android for me.

Now for lunch.

Sunday, January 24th, Twenty-Ten

I’m working hard on the Twenty-Ten thing rather than Two-Thousand-Ten, fewer syllable's according to Leo Laporte. Who am I to argue, my grammar background is not what it should be but I do like Twenty-Ten.

GLASS: (Pleasure before business) 

Back to Columbus yesterday to see another Dale Chihuly exhibit at the Hawk Galleries. We were delighted to meet Tom Hawk and he was very gracious at giving us his personal time and showing us around the gallery. We learned so much I wished I had a notepad and was on an assignment. Tom was so knowledgeable and so willing to answer our questions. We had a wonderful time I highly recommend anyone in or going to Columbus that has an interest in glass to stop at Hawk Galleries, 153 East Main in Columbus, OH. My admiration for Dale Chihuly keep growing with each connection, exhibits, books, video tape and discussion with Tom Hawk. At the same time we were introduced to more glass artists who have outstanding work. Have I said we had a wonderful day? We did!

Brand Loyalty Is Being Killed by the Brand

Over all the blog post’s that I have written one thing remained a common thread and that I is I am loyal purchaser of brands that support me. One very important one has been HP and now that is changing.

The Windows 7 upgrade is becoming an eye opener. I am slow since I had some issues with the Windows Vista upgrade however now it is really hitting home. With Windows Vista it was a scanner that was not too old however HP said “oh no, uh uh, we are not providing drivers for that scanner and Windows Vista”. It didn’t matter that the scanner was not that old.

Now with Windows 7 I am finding more and more of this. First with a HP Mini that is only about 7 months old and now with my HP Tablet TX1000 that is less than 3 years old. They both upgraded fine to Windows 7 (thanks to Microsoft) however HP will not upgrade the drivers for either computer nor will they now support these computer’s.

I suspect they feel that if you want this you will buy a new computer and enhance their bottom line and therefore support the stockholders expectations. Well I am a stakeholder and equally as important as any damn stockholder (if not more so) and now I am saying my next purchase will be the best for the price and I could care less about brand loyalty.

The love affair is over! Sayonara, Arrivaderchie, Auf Wiedersein, so long.

Dear HP, Oh how I hate to write
Dear Hp, I must let you know tonight
Than my love for you has died away like grass upon the lawn
and my next computer purchase will be changing with the dawn.

I will be looking closely at (and recommending) Lenovo as well as many others. This is a “world economy” and we need to do what is best for the individual user. I do reach out and touch others and I am often considered an “influencer” and I intend to pursue that line.

When I fall I fall hard and I am slow to recover and you HP have hurt me and my beliefs in good corporate governance. I know, it’s all about the money, so be it, I will be thinking the same and I will speak the same. Power to the user!

The world is changing and we are all realizing that for the next few years we will need to be upgrading to get to the latest and greatest and unfortunately for you it is a growing and expanding world and hardware will be available anywhere, what is most important is the software.

Adieu, Au revoir, farewell HP.

I wonder if I could find another way to say it.

Not All Is Right in HP Mini World

Just discovered that in my wonderful world up updates to the HP Mini (Windows 7 and such) that HP does not recognize Windows 7 on this computer and Intel does not provide drivers other than the basic chipset – which was OK.

I discovered this with the issue of the resolution which is 1024 x 566. When the OS for this Mini was XP I could right click on the desktop and “rotate” the window 90 degrees and then I could make changes on dialog boxes that were greater than 566 px. That ability is gone and it would appear that the only answer is that you must buy a new netbook with Windows 7 already installed.

I did find a work around by going to Screen Resolution (right click on the desktop) and changing the Orientation to Portrait and when finished back to Landscape again. It’s about the same with the other way being a little faster and less complicated and the switch did not disturb the open windows as much.

I am sure there will be other things that I will discover but all in all upgrading to Windows 7 is still a good option. HP is no different than Microsoft, it’s all about cash flow.

Now to see if I can make the Connectify software work. This will allow me to make this Mini into a “Hotspot” for others. Should be interesting.

One More Computer Upgrade

I managed to upgrade the last of my computer’s – the HP Tablet and although it took 4 1/2 hours it really went well. I actually upgraded with Windows 7 Professional since the computer had Windows Vista Business I decided that I did not want to do a clean install so Win 7 Pro was the answer.

Before doing the install I ran the compatibly check and discovered a few items that had to be removed before upgrading; iTunes, some HP items and the finger print reader (that was a waste anyway). This took time as I had to reboot after removing these items however once underway the upgrade went nicely.

I was very pleased as it picked up Mesh as well as all the other software. I still have to check and see that all the drivers (printer, etc) have come along with the upgrade but so far not too bad. I did re-install iTunes after the upgrade but that was a piece of cake and then I immediately updated all my podcasts. One thing of interest to me was that I keep all my iTunes music and podcasts on an external 500 GB drive and upon installing iTunes it found the drive and connected without any issues.

One last note for today: check out Backupify for storing backup’s of your online data. It is FREE until January 31st. I had been pointed to this by TWiT and Leo.

This Week Technology & Me

Here it is Sunday the 17th of January and I have just joined foursquare. After a search of my Gmail accounts, Twitter accounts (which didn’t work) and my Face book accounts only two people that are friends have joined foursquare. Where are you people? Get with it, become the Mayor of somewhere! Franz just accepted my friendship and I like that. Check out the Eponymous Pickle.

OK so far the HP Mini, my Verizon VZ Access Manager, and Windows 7 are playing very well together and we are moving right along. Now to find something new to attack.

I am reading newspaper’s and searching the web on my Motorola Droid so my tech life is not all bad. Having read all the reports from CES I am sorry that I could not attend this year. I watched as Leo Laporte did live broadcasts from CES and was much impressed with what Leo is doing on TWiT (This Week in Technology). If you have not seen any of the LIVE broadcasts/videocasts or podcasts from TWiT you should check them out. Not all the broadcasts from TWiT are technical so there just might be something that you might find interesting. For the Live TV just go to http://twit.tv and click on the Live tab or just go to http://live.twit.tv and watch for a bit. If you get there during Live broadcasts all the better however he plays previously recorded broadcasts when not Live. It is the future of watching TV and is worth a look-see. He does broadcast in HD and on a TV or nice HD Monitor (which I am the proud owner of) it is really sharp. You can do this also.

As a side note I believe that all Email packages should have the spam filter that Gmail has – it is very good.

OK on to foursquare. Have a GREAT DAY it is time for lunch.

HP Mini, Verizon & Windows 7 – Winning Combination

I have upgraded my HP Mini (running Windows XP) to Windows 7 Home Premium and I am not sure that it could get much better than this. I will give you the clues and one issue that I created for  myself. 

First thing I did was follow the instructions from a Tech Republic  (registration required – free) article on how to Configure a USB flash drive to be a Windows 7 installation platform. Since the Mini does not have a DVD drive I used a 8 GB USB drive that I had and followed Tech Republic’s instructions completely. I have used this twice in the last 3 day’s and it has been flawless (I did a friends also).

Next I downloaded all the Windows Live software and then installed my Mesh connection. After setting up Mesh and all the folders I have, I downloaded the Microsoft Office 2010 Beta and installed it. So far so good, cannot believe how easy this  is.

Next I installed my AVG software for Anti Virus protection and then I began the trek into installing the Verizon Access Manager.

Installing the VZ Access Manger software should have been very easy if I had 1)  read everything ‘correctly’ the first time, and 2) installed the 2 pieces of software required appropriately. I had written to Verizon Tech Support before going into this and received a reply telling me what had to be done. It was very clear and straight forward. I installed the VZ Access Manger software as directed and while doing this I discovered that I also had to download a file from HP to complete the process. VZ Access Manager did not work. So I called Verizon Tech Support and we worked on it for about 45 minutes to an hour. The tech support person was very gracious however in the end she said I would have to call HP as there was a conflict between the VZ Access Manager software and the HP Multi-WWAN software which I had installed. Long story short before calling HP I went back over everything and discovered that I had not installed the HP software correctly. I owe that Verizon support person an apology. Once I uninstalled everything and re-installed it ‘correctly’ it works like a charm and BETTER than it did in Windows XP.

I have since installed the Firefox browser as well as Chrome and both work very well. I tend to use Chrome when dealing with Google, IE8 when going to Microsoft, and Firefox when I feel like it.

Not only is the netbook faster it is now very cool. I have added gadgets and some other things and have some software (WinZip for one) left to install.

I am selling HP and Verizon without even being on their payroll. I have convinced at least 6 others to upgrade to Droid and yesterday had someone commit to leaving his present carrier when the contract is up to get a Droid (or at least so they said). As for HP, I push them all the time anyway.

Wish List and Thoughts for the Future

As I sit here in Starbuck at the Jungle (Jungle Jim’s for those who are not familiar with the area) I am listening to This Week in Google (TWiG) with Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Gina Trapani. The big difference is that I am not listening on my iPod but on my Droid.

The sound is good with the Sony ear buds that I am using however I would rather have a small speaker with speakerphone – Bluetooth of course. Not necessarily for use in Starbucks but at the house, in the office or in the car. Motorola has one (or two) but they are “not available for your phone” even thought the initial search was accessories for the Droid. I had the same experience trying to latch onto another product that Motorola shows, the Multimedia Station, which Motorola says it is coming soon. It must be coming from Mars.

By the way the Sony website, http://www.sony.com/index.php, is not the best web site for mobile as it is Flash intensive. They may be only interested in the people with big computers.

Back to the Droid, I think I will have to upgrade my 16GB card to 32GB and perhaps re-evaluate how I use my iPod.

Note: while listening I had a phone call that cut right into the podcast and then returned me when the call was over. Very nice.

One last thing on the wish list is a Bluetooth folding keyboard for the Droid. I used one for a few years with my Palm IV and loved it. With that the HP Mini could be left at home. Throw in better battery life and I am in.

I have to figure out how to post from the Droid – that’s next.